Mombasa records two Mpox deaths, 98 new cases

Mombasa County has reported two deaths from Mpox, and 98 others have been affected as of July 10 this year.

County director for Clinical Services, Dr Mohamed Hanif, said yesterday Mombasa was one of 21 counties that have reported cases of Mpox.

Since the disease was reported in Mombasa County in September last year, 159 samples have been tested.

He said that the cumulative admissions in the isolation centre are 86 patients, with 24 patients currently admitted.

Dr Hanif, however, noted that 60 results had turned negative and that they were waiting for the result from one sample.

"The majority of the cases have been reported from Nyali and Changamwe sub-counties at 23 (23.6 per cent) and 19 (19 per cent). The youngest case was aged 12 years, with most cases aged 26 to 45 years. An upsurge of cases has been observed in June and July," said Hanif at a briefing yesterday.

Mpox is a viral disease that causes a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and low energy.

Medical experts say that most people fully recover, but some get sick and can die, especially those with comorbidities such as chronic diseases, causing low immunity.

It is an emerging infectious disease that is of zoonotic origin.

Previously confined to Central Africa, the disease has recently spread to Eastern Africa, with Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya reporting cases.

Dr Hanif urged Mombasa residents to remain vigilant and observe the laid-down prevention protocols to contain the outbreak.